by Akemi Tamanaha, Associate Editor
On Tuesday night Asian Americans across the nation watched Democratic Vice Presidential candidate Kamala Harris and Vice President Mike Pence face each other at the first and only Vice Presidential debate.
The debate marked the first time ever an Asian American and person of color took center stage in a debate for the nation’s second highest office.
The opening of the debate began with discussions of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The American people have witnessed what is the greatest failure of any presidential administration in the history of our country,” Harris said.
Harris condemned the Trump administration’s failure to disclose information about the coronavirus it had obtained back in January to the American people. She pointed out that the administration did not take immediate action despite learning about the dangers of COVID-19 much earlier than they had let on.
Pence defended the Trump administration’s efforts by claiming Harris was criticizing the American people, despite Harris specifically noting her criticisms were of the administration. He also praised Trump’s early China travel ban, stating that the President’s handling of China saved thousands of lives. He did not acknowledge the fact that many of America’s COVID-19 outbreaks were linked to travel from other places like Europe.
Asian Americans were disappointed that Pence continued to associate the COVID-19 pandemic with China, and subsequently Asian Americans, during the debate.
“It was extremely disappointing that the Vice President continued to make the categorical statement that ‘China is to blame for the coronavirus,'” John C. Yang, the president and executive director of Asian Americans Advancing Justice, told AsAmNews in an email. “We all know that the virus knows no borders and that many medical experts recognize that the virus most likely was introduced to the U.S. from various places.”
“By doing this, he also gives license for people to act on anti-Asian prejudices,” Yang continued. “We have seen that words matter, and that reckless words have caused great pain and violence to a community. Indeed, the only mention of Asia was in this negative context.”
Ahead of the debate, many Asian Americans had already condemned the Trump administration’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and its contribution to the rise in anti-Asian hate.
“Right now, the Senate is rushing to confirm President Trump’s nominee to the Supreme Court despite the danger now that three Senators have tested positive for COVID-19 and without passing legislation for pandemic relief,” National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum Executive Director Sue Yeon Choimorrow said in a statement. “The pandemic has shown us the importance of electing people who align with our values and have our best interests in mind and the stakes are too high not to vote.”
Asian Americans also expressed their disappointment that neither candidate discussed the rise in anti-Asian discrimination and hate.
“Two debates down, and still no mention of how Asian Americans have been impacted by the pandemic and the racist associations between the virus and the community,” Kimmy Yam, a journalist who covers Asian American issues for NBC News, wrote in a tweet.
The candidates discussed a wide range of issues like economic recovery, racial justice and climate change. A recent survey conducted by AAPI Data suggests that AAPI voter care deeply about those issues.
Both candidates expressed their love and support for Breonna Taylor’s family. Harris, however, reiterated the Biden-Harris campaign’s commitment to reforming our criminal justice system by implementing chokehold bans, creating a database to record police brutality and much more. Pence stated he had faith in our justice system. He expressed surprise that Harris, as a former prosecutor, did not support the grand jury’s decision in Taylor’s case.
Harris and Pence also sparred over climate change. Senator Harris continued to emphasize that Biden would not ban fracking but noted that the campaign’s climate policies aim to have the country carbon neutral by 2035 in order to combat climate change. Pence said the Trump administration would continue to allow the free market to address climate change. He claimed that the air and water is cleaner under Trump, a statement that is factually incorrect.
The candidates were also asked about the Supreme Court vacancy. Harris said she did not believe the vacancy should be filled so close to an election. Pence expressed support for filling the vacancy and for the Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett. He questioned whether Harris and Biden would try to pack the court if they won the election.
Debate viewers also noted that Pence did not answer a question about whether the Trump administration would commit to a peaceful transfer of power if they lost the election.
Yang appreciated that the debate was more civil, but wished the candidates dove further into issues that Asian Americans cared about.
“Tonight’s debate was refreshing in having more of a conversation, rather than having one individual trying to talk over the moderator and the other candidate,” Yang said. “Nevertheless, it was still frustrating that there was only passing mention of some core issues that matter to Asian Americans, including immigration. Although there was discussion of issues of importance to Asian Americans – such as the economy, health care, and climate change – the discussion was often stilted and relied on talking points rather than engaging with the voters.”
Yang praised Harris for her honoring her immigrant mother.
“Given the current Administration’s anti-immigrant agenda, it was comforting to hear Senator Harris talk about her immigrant mother from India and the dignity of all people,” Yang said. “Too often, elected leaders don’t recognize the role that immigration has played in making this country what it is today.”
AAPI women showed support for Senator Harris before the debate by posting photos of other AAPI women that inspired them. Film director Alice Wu posted a photo of her grandmother and expressed her support for Senator Harris.
Many Asian Americans felt that Harris outperformed Pence.
“Sen. Kamala Harris is one of the most skilled and sharpest debaters in the nation, and Vice President Pence had not much to say,” Philadelphia Councilmember Helen Gym said in an emailed statement to AsAmNews. “While she pressed home issues of healthcare, civil rights and immigration reform, Pence could say nothing about his administration’s failure to protect people’s health or its ties to White supremacist organizations and hate groups. It was not much of a contest.”
Former presidential candidate Andrew Yang said he felt Senator Harris met the threshold she needed to meet.
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